Position Overview
As the Senior Lead for Materials Development in Lifestyle, Collaborations, and Special Projects within Apparel, you will play a pivotal role in driving material excellence for our extensive apparel range. Your expertise will significantly influence apparel design, aesthetics, and product quality. You will inspire cross-functional teams with a strategic vision, championing ambitious, sustainable solutions that align with ON Running's brand identity.
This role requires a proactive and entrepreneurial individual who thrives on challenges and possesses a passion for material aesthetics, premium quality, and genuine sustainability. You will report to the Head of Apparel Material and work closely with Apparel Design, Product Management, and Development.
Your Mission
- Guide and Curate Premium Material Palette: Ensure that the selected development materials enhance the garment's fit, trims, and finishes, aligning with our design identity as the world's premier sports brand. Continuously provide a pipeline of material concepts for design.
- Manage Material Development Through Commercialization: Oversee material development from the initial design brief to the product commercialization handoff, adhering to timelines and ensuring clear communication with suppliers.
- Drive Sustainability and Implement Innovation: Collaborate with the Head of Apparel Materials and our innovation and sustainability teams to integrate new preferred materials and commercially viable innovations into the product line. Identify and onboard new material partners while liaising with global sourcing to build a robust supplier network.
- Oversee Material Pricing and Lead Times: Manage upfront material pricing and lead times with suppliers to ensure alignment with project goals and business objectives.
- Collaborate with Product Creation Stakeholders: Act as a key partner to all product creation stakeholders, including Design, Product Management, Development, Testing, and Sales.
Your Story
- Experience: You possess 15-20+ years of distinguished global experience in apparel and material development, with a strong emphasis on luxury fashion, high-end Ready-to-Wear (RTW), and lifestyle products.
- Technical Expertise: You have extensive knowledge of materials and trims, with a specialization in tailoring, outerwear, and jersey. You are well-versed in natural and synthetic fiber types and are an expert in sustainability, traceability, and circularity certifications.
- Strategic Vision: You have a keen eye for high-fashion aesthetics and a deep awareness of industry trends, acting as a strategic consultant to ensure that material choices align with premium market positioning and design-led brand identity.
- Communication: Boasting excellent verbal and written communication skills, you can engage effectively with Creative Directors and executive stakeholders. Your ability to translate complex design concepts into captivating visual material narratives is unmatched.
- Organizational & Operational Skills: Highly detail-oriented, you excel in budget oversight and process optimization, demonstrating an ability to implement systems that enhance development lead times while reducing costs in a fast-paced environment.
- Global Exposure & Network: Experience in global material sourcing is essential, with a well-established network of premium European and global mills and adeptness in managing factory relationships throughout the production cycle.
- Education: You hold a degree in Fashion, Textiles, or a related creative field from a reputable university, providing you with a strong foundational understanding of garment construction and textile innovation.
- Languages: You are fluent in English, both written and spoken; additional language proficiency is a plus.
Meet the Team
Our team is dedicated to creating innovative products for ON. We bear the vital responsibility of meeting the needs and demands of our runners and new customers. By researching, designing, developing, and testing countless ideas—both scientifically and aesthetically—we ensure that only the products that pass our rigorous testing standards reach the market.
What We Offer
At ON, our culture is centered around growth and progress. We provide an environment designed to equip individuals with the tools necessary for holistic development—promoting activity, learning, exploration, and innovation. Our unique approach blends a supportive, team-oriented atmosphere with access to personal self-care for physical and mental well-being, guiding everyone with a sense of purpose.
We are committed to creating a work environment that is fair and inclusive, ensuring that all decisions related to recruitment, advancement, and retention are free from discrimination. Apply online using the form below. Please note that only applications matching the job profile will be considered.